United world colleges - Atlantic College offer

[TheStirrer]

We have been offered a place for our child for Atlantic College for Sept 19 entry as well as a good offer of a scholarship at a nearby independent school where she can study the IB.
Unfortunately we won’t receive any financial aid for Atlantic College but we can just about afford this from our savings and leave a reasonable buffer in case of disaster.

We are now in a quandary though - is it really worth the additional cost? I would be grateful for advice from any UWC parents whose children went or even if they went!

I was a peripatetic instrumental teacher at AC for 13 years, until a few years ago.
I would say that the AC experience is pretty unique, and suits a particular sort of student. The students come from all over the world, from every sort of background, and they are very passionate about global issues. They are treated like adults who have a say in the future of the world. The days are incredibly long - early mornings and late evenings.
AC feels very much like a community. I am still in touch with a couple of my former pupils and the AC experience has never left them; they meet up with old AC friends all over the world.